Matrix (printing)
Videos
In the manufacture of metal type used in letterpress printing, a matrix is the mould used to cast a letter, known as a sort. Matrices for printing types were made of copper.
Matrices created by Jean Jannon around 1640. The Garamond typeface installed with most Microsoft software is based on these designs.
A composition case loaded with matrices for a font, used to cast metal type on a Monotype composition casting machine in the hot metal typesetting period. The matrices were stamped with punches machined using pantographs from large working drawings and intermediate copper patterns, and used to cast type under the control of a keyboard. This gave much cleaner results than pre-pantograph punches, which had to be hand-carved at the size of the desired letter, and allowed fonts to be issued in more sizes faster than was previously possible.
A punch (left) and the respective matrix produced from it (right). The small letters at the base of the matrix are founders' inventory marks.
Duplexed Linotype matrices for regular and bold styles.
Wood type
Videos
In letterpress printing, wood type is movable type made out of wood. First used in China for printing body text, wood type became popular during the nineteenth century for making large display typefaces for printing posters, because it was lighter and cheaper than large sizes of metal type.
Wood type in close-up
Exhibition poster by Alan Kitching, who often uses wood type in his work
Wooden movable types in the China Printing Museum, Beijing
Large display type, cut by Hendrik van den Keere in wood and reproduced by sandcasting